Shuttle propelling mechanism in circular loom

ABSTRACT

In a circular loom in which at least one shuttle is continuously travelled in one direction along an annular shuttle guide means, and a plurality of shed forming mechanisms arranged annularly and coaxially with the guide means are sequentially opened prior to arrival of the shuttle to form a moving shed through which the shuttle is to be inserted and passed, each of the shed forming mechanisms having a cylindrical cam mechanism which creates an opening movement of the respective healds, a shuttle propelling mechanism is disposed. This shuttle propelling mechanism comprises a supporting plate rotatably mounted on an extension of a rotation shaft of the cylindrical cam mechanism at a position corresponding to the annular shuttle guide means, at least one horizontal shaft fixed to this supporting plate correspondingly to the shuttle, a shuttle engaging mechanism mounted on the free end of the horizontal shaft, which engaging mechanism is to be engaged with a part of the shuttle guided by the annular shuttle guide means, and a mechanism for transmitting the rotational movement of the cylindrical cam mechanism to the horizontal shaft.

DESCRIPTION TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a shuttle propelling mechanism in a circularloom.

BACKGROUND ART

Bags formed from woven fabrics of a plain weave structure utilizingtapes of synthetic resins, such as polypropylene and polyethylene resinsor synthetic resin strands, such as multifilament yarns or cords ofsynthetic resins, as warps and wefts have been widely used fortransportation and storage of granules, such as grains, sugarfertilizers and synthetic resin pelletes. This is because these bags arestrong and light in weight. These bags can be made from a tubular fabricproduced by using an ordinary power loom, but there is a tendency to usecircular looms having a high weaving efficiency for the manufacture ofthe tubular fabric to be formed into these bags. Therefore, there havebeen various attempts to use of circular looms in not only Japan butalso other industrially advanced countries. As a typical instance of atubular-fabric practical circular loom, there can be mentioned thecircular loom disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,871,413, or a circular loomwhich has been manufactured and sold by the British Company, FairbairnLawson Machinery, Ltd.

As is well known, in a circular loom of the above-mentioned type, aneven number of shuttles are mounted on an annular shuttle guide memberso that they can travel along this guide member, and engaging means tobe engaged with corresponding shuttles, respectively, such as pressrollers, are moved along the shuttle guide member. Each shuttle ispressed by the corresponding engaging means and is propelled along theshuttle guide member. Wefts taken out from the respective shuttles arefabricated with warps sequentially opened on both the upper and lowersides of the respective shuttles by healds, and a tubular fabric is thusformed.

However, if waste yarns are mingled in the warps or some of the warpsare split in the lengthwise direction, the warps are often entangledwith each other so that they can not be normally opened. In theconventional circular loom, a shuttle propelling engaging means, such asa press roll, is directly connected to a rotary member rotating in theshuttle propelling direction around the central axis of a shuttle guidemember, for example, a cam drum wheel having a cam rail mounted on theperipheral face thereof to operate healds. Accordingly, when the warpsare not opened for the above-mentioned reasons, the shuttles are pushedunder a high pressure into the warps which are not opened but kept inclosed condition. Accordingly, in this case, there are caused varioustroubles such as breakage of warps and damage to the shuttle propellingengaging means and a supporting mechanism therefor.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a shuttlepropelling mechanism in a circular loom, in which the above-mentioneddefects of the conventional circular loom can be eliminated, and whenwarps are not normally opened by entanglement or the like, breakages ofwarps or damage to the shuttle propelling engaging means or a supportingmechanism therefor by the pressing force of the shuttles can beprevented.

In accordance with the present invention, this object can be attained bya shuttle propelling mechanism in a circular loom, which ischaracterized in that a shuttle propelling engaging means is supportedon a supporting member rotatably pivoted around the central axis of ashuttle guide member and the rotation of the supporting member isrestrained by rotation restraining means urged by urging means, such asa spring, toward the rotation direction of rotary member rotating aroundthe central axis of the shuttle guide member in the shuttle propellingdirection, such as a cam drum wheel. This rotation restraining means isarranged so that when an excessive load is imposed on a support in therotation direction thereof, the rotation restraining means is displacedby the urging means, such as a spring, to release the restraint on thesupport and rotary member with respect to the rotation direction. Theshuttle propelling engaging means has an over-running preventingfunction of preventing excessive running of the shuttles, that is, afunction of preventing the shuttles from over-running from the shuttlepropelling engaging means.

Accordingly, when the shuttle propelling mechanism of the presentinvention is adopted, even if abnormal sheds are formed, forcibleinsertion of shuttles into the sheds is prevented and the restraint ofthe supporting member of the shuttle propelling mechanism and the rotarymember for driving the supporting member is released, whereby occurrenceof the above-mentioned troubles can be completely prevented.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating one embodiment of a circularloom in which the shuttle propelling mechanism of the present inventionis utilized.

FIG. 2 is a partially omitted plan view illustrating a main part of thecircular loom illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view illustrating the section taken along line III--IIIin FIG. 2, which illustrates the main part of the circular loomillustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a shed forming mechanism of the circularloom illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a shuttle to be used for the circular loomillustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the shuttle propelling mechanism of thepresent invention, which is utilized for the circular loom illustratedin FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a partially sectional side of one unit of the shuttlepropelling mechanism illustrated in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a side view of a main part of the shuttle propelling mechanismillustrated in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatical representation illustrating the relativepositional relationship of members of the shuttle propelling mechanismillustrated in FIG. 8, seen from the direction of the horizontal axisthereof.

FIG. 10 is a partially omitted plan view illustrating a mechanism fortransmitting the rotational movement of the cylindrical cam mechanismillustrated in FIG. 7 to the horizontal shaft of the shuttle propellingmechanism.

FIG. 11 is a side view of a part of the transmission mechanismillustrated in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a plan view of a mechanism for preventing over-running of thehorizontal shaft of the shuttle propelling mechanism illustrated in FIG.7.

FIG. 13 is a side view of the over-running preventing mechanismillustrated in FIG. 12.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT INVENTION

For the purpose of clearly illustrating the shuttle propelling mechanismof the present invention, an embodiment of a circular loom to which themechanism of the present invention is applied will be described, withreference to FIGS. 1 through 5, prior to entering into the descriptionof the structure and effect of the shuttle propelling mechanism of thepresent invention.

In the circular loom 1 illustrated in FIG. 1, a main part 4 includingshed forming means and filling means is mounted within a frame 9, andthe shed forming means and filling means are driven by an electric motor5 disposed below the main part 4 through a first power transmissionmechanism (not shown). Tubular fabric take-out means 8 mounted on theframe 9 above the main part 4 is driven by a second transmissionmechanism (not shown) connected to the take-out means 8. Since thissecond power transmission mechanism is driven by the first transmissionmechanism through a driving transmission lever 11, the take-out means 8is driven while being kept synchronous with the main part 4. Warps 3, ina number necessary for weaving a desirable tubular fabric 2, are fed toa pair of creels 6 disposed on both the sides of the main part 4symmetrically with each other with respect to the main part 4 (only onecreel disposed on the right side is illustrated in FIG. 1), from aplurality of packages 6a mounted rotatably for feeding warps, and thewarps 3 are fed to the main part 4 through warp feed-out means 7. Thetubular fabric 2 formed by the weaving operation in the main part 4 ofthe circular loom 1 is upwardly taken out by the take-out means 8 andguided to winding means (not shown) in a direction indicated by anarrow.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the main part 4 of the circular loom 1comprises a vertical shaft 14 rotatably supported through a pair of rollbearings 17 on bearings housing 15 fixed to a central opening of adisc-like frame 16 fixed to a base 9a of the frame 9; a grooved pulley18 fixed to the lower end of the vertical shaft 14, a cylindrical cammechanism 19 fixed to the shaft 14 at a position above the disc-likeframe 16, a shed forming mechanism, described hereinafter, which isoperated by an annular cam 19a of the cylindrical cam mechanism 19, fourshuttle propelling mechanisms 23 fixed to a supporting member 22 fixedto the shaft 14 above the cylindrical cam mechanism 19; an annular guidemeans 25 comprising a pair of annular guide members 25a, 25b for guidingtwo pairs of front and rear wheels 26a and 26b mounted on both the sidesof a shuttle 26; a horizontal disc guide member 27 supported rotatablyon the top of the shaft 14 to guide another wheel 26c of the shuttle 26;an annular guide 29 which is stationarily held through an intermediatemember 28 by supporting arms 24c, with a slight clearance from the topend of the annular edge of the horizontal disc guide member 27, so as toguide the tubular fabric 2; eight frame members 24a fixed to thedisc-like frame 16; arms 24b fixed to every other one of the framemembers 24a; a plurality of yarn guides 39 mounted on an annular member24d fixed to the frame members 24a; a plurality of warp tensionregulating dancing levers 40 pivoted to another annular member 24fhaving a circular section similarly fixed to the frames 24a, and controlmeans which is capable of actuating when the dancing lever 40 turns overa predetermined turning angle. The supporting arms 24c are fixedly heldby the arms 24b as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. As shown in thedrawings (FIGS. 1 and 3), warps 3 are guided from the creels 6 throughguide rolls 7a rotatably supported on frames 9b and the yarn guides 39to yarn guide apertures 40b formed on the top end portion 40a of thedancing lever 40, and a shed is formed by the shed forming mechanism,the structure of which is illustrated in detail in FIG. 4. The shuttle26 propelled by the shuttle propelling mechanism 23 is inserted in thisshed to weave the tubular fabric 2, and the tubular fabric 2 is takenout upwardly (in a direction indicated by an arrow) through an annularclearance formed between the circular edge of the horizontal guidemember 27 and the annular guide 29, while being guided by a fabric guidemember 31. Then, the tubular fabric 2 is wound on a roll through thetake-out means 8 (FIG. 1) by winding means (not shown).

In the circular loom 1 having the above-mentioned structure, as shown inFIG. 4, the shed forming mechanism comprises: a plurality of verticalguide rods 20 fixed to the peripheral flange portion of the disc-likeframe 16; a cam-follower holding member 37 slidably mounted on therespective guide rods 20; a cam 19a projected from the periphery of thecylindrical cam mechanism 19; a pair of cam-followers 37a and 37b, whichare rotatably mounted on the holding member 37 so that they have rollingcontact with the cam 19a from above and below the cam 19a, respectively;heald frame guides 46 mounted on the upper annular guide member 25a toguide a pair of heald frames 45a and 45b (heald frame guides aresimilarly mounted on the lower annular guide member 25b, but they areomitted in FIG. 4); belts 47a and 47b for connecting both the healdframes 45a and 45b to move the heald frames 45a and 45b vertically inopposite directions and, thus, form a fully open shed; and a belt guide34b mounted on the peripheral flange portion of the disc-like cam 16.Since the holding member 37 to which the cam-followers 37a and 37b areattached is connected to the belt 47b by a pin member 37c, a verticalmovement is given to the heald frame 45a by the vertical movement of theholding member 37. This vertical movement is transmitted to the otherheald frame 45b through the belts 47a and 47b. Accordingly, a verticalmovement reversed to the vertical movement of the heald frame 45a isgiven to the heald frame 45b. The same number of heald wires 48 are heldby each of the heald frames 45a and 45b, and vertical rods 50 in anumber corresponding to the number of the heald wires 48 are fixedlyarranged lengthwise in a space between the confronting horizontal planesof the upper and lower guide members 25a and 25b of the annular guidemeans 25. Since the shape of the cam face of the projection cam 19a isdesigned with respect to the heald frames 45a and 45b so that a fullyopen shed is formed when the warps 3 are passed through the eyes 48a ofthe corresponding heald wires 48, respectively, a shed forming a plainweave structure can be produced by rotation of the cylindrical cammechanism 19. Since plural pairs of the above-mentioned paired healdframes 45a and 45b are annularly arranged along the periphery of thecylindrical cam mechanism 19 adjacently to one another, these pairedheald frames 45a and 45b are capable of creating successive sheds ofidentical shape with rotation of the cylindrical cam mechanism 19.Accordingly, if a plurality of shuttles 26, for example, four shuttles26 are propelled by the respective shuttle propelling mechanisms 23 heldby the supporting member 22, synchronously with formation of thesesheds, a tubular fabric 2 of a plain weave structure can be formed.

The structures, functions and effects of the shuttle propellingmechanism of the present invention applied to a circular loom having theabove-mentioned structure and the shuttled to be used in the presentinvention will now be described in detail.

As will be apparent from the above-mentioned illustration referringFIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the shuttle 26 is supported so that it can travelbetween the paired upper and lower guide members 25a, and 25b of theannular guide means 25 and the disk-like guide member 27 disposed insidecoaxially therewith through wheels 26a, 26b and 26c. In the presentembodiment, four shuttles 26 are utilized, and a roller 26d capable ofhaving rolling contact with the propelling member of the shuttlepropelling mechanism 23 is rotatably mounted on the rear end portion ofa frame 26e of each shuttle 26 as shown in FIG. 5. A pair of brackets26f are mounted on the frame 26e to hold a weft bobbin 69 rotatablyaround the axis thereof. In order to mount or dismount the weft bobbin69, one bracket 26f is pivoted on a supporting member 26i projected fromthe frame 26e. The above-mentioned wheel 26c is rotatably mounted on thetop end portion of a lever 26h pivoted on the top end portion of theframe 26e. An endless groove is formed on the periphery of the wheel 26cto guide a weft 70 which is taken from the weft bobbin 69. The lever 26his turnably connected to the top end of a connecting member 26g by meansof a pin 26l. The yarn 70 on the weft bobbin 69 held on the bracket 26fof the shuttle 26 is introduced to the guide groove of the wheel 26cthrough yarn guides 26j and 26k mounted on the connecting member 26g andis taken out from the bobbin 69 with the movement of the shuttle 26.

As shown in FIGS. 6 through 9, the shuttle propelling mechanism 23comprises: a supporting member 22 disposed rotatably on the verticalshaft 14 of the annular guide means 25; four horizontal shafts 23a fixedto four corresponding brackets 22a formed on the peripheral edge of thesupporting member 22 symmetrically with respect to the vertical shaft14; a roller 23g rotatably supported on a lever 23c held by each shaft23a to roll on the guide member 25b of the annular guide member 25, and;a push roller 23b rotatably held on the top end of each horizontal shaft23a. This push roller 23b is arranged at a position where it is allowedto fall in rolling contact with the roller 26d of the shuttle 26 frombehind the roller 26d. A stop roller 23d is rotatably supported by thelever 23c swingably supported on the top end portion of the horizontalshaft 23a, and this stop roller 23d is located forwardly of the roller26d of the shuttle 26, with which the push roller 23b falls in contact,with respect to the moving direction of the shuttle 26. This lever 23cis held at a position where the roller 23g rolls on the annular guidemember 25b, by a spring 23f connected to an arm 23i projected from ablock 23e (see FIG. 9) having one end fixed to the shaft 23a.

As pointed out hereinbefore, the heald frames 45a and 45b are operatedby the annular cam 19a formed on the peripheral face of the cylindricalcam mechanism 19. The cylindrical cam mechanism 19 is pivoted, on thelower portion of the supporting member 22, rotatably around the centralshaft 14, and it is rotated in a direction indicated by arrow X, thatis, the movement direction of the shuttle, by a driving mechanism suchas a motor.

The shuttle propelling mechanism 23 of the present invention having theabove-mentioned structure is driven by the movement of the cylindricalcam mechanism 19 as the drive source.

As shown in FIGS. 6, 10 and 11, the supporting member 22 and respectiveshafts 23a are restrained the motion thereof to the rotation directionof the cylindrical cam mechanism 19 by a single push lever 56. This pushlever 56 is swingably pivoted on a bracket 59 attached to the top faceof the cylindrical cam mechanism 19 and is normally held in a verticalposition by a spring 61 connected on one end thereof to the lever 56with the other end thereof fixed to a bracket 60 mounted on the cammechanism 19, and by a stopper 57 fixed to the bracket 59. The length ofthe push lever 56 is such that, when the push lever 56 is held in thevertical position, it can be engaged with the horizontal shaft 23a frombehind the shaft 23a. The push lever 56 is allowed to swing against thespring 61 in the counterclockwise direction in FIGS. 6 and 11, that is,in the direction reverse to the rotation of the cylindrical cammechanism 19, to the horizontal position. By this swinging movement, theengagement of the push lever 56 with the horizontal shaft 23a can bereleased. The dead point of the push lever 56 to the spring 61 islocated between the vertical position and horizontal position thereof,and therefore, when the push lever 56 swings to the horizontal position,the spring 61 acts on the push lever 56 in the direction being reverseto the previous turning direction thereof and the push lever 56 issupported in the horizontal position by the spring 61 and the stopper 58mounted on the bracket 59.

In this embodiment, another stop lever 62 is disposed at a positionsymmetrical with the position of the push lever 56 with respect to thevertical shaft 14, as shown in FIG. 6. As shown in FIGS. 6, 12 and 13,the stop lever 62 is swingably pivoted on a bracket 63 attached to thetop face of the cylindrical cam mechanism 19 and is held in the verticalposture by a spring 65 having one end connected to the bracket 63 andthe other end connected to the stop lever 62 and a stopper 64 fixed tothe bracket 63. As shown in FIG. 6, the position of the stop lever 62 isarranged so that when the push lever 56 is engaged with the horizontalshaft 23a from behind the shaft 23a, the stop lever 62 is locatedforwardly of the horizontal shaft 23a located at the positionsymmetrical with the position of the horizontal shaft 23a and is engagedwith the horizontal shaft 23a. The spring 65 is disposed only to supportthe stop lever 62 and its pulling force is small, and therefore, thestop lever 62 is allowed to swing under a small tension in the clockwisedirection in FIG. 6, and the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 13, thatis, in the direction opposite to the rotational direction of thecylindrical cam mechanism 19, against the pulling force of the spring65.

In the circular loom having the above-mentioned structure, when thecylindrical cam mechanism 19 is rotated in the direction indicated byarrow X, the push lever 56 falls in engagement with the horizontal shaft23a, from behind the shaft 23a, to urge the shaft 23a. Accordingly, therespective horizontal shafts 23a are rotated integrally with thesupporting member 22 with rotation of the cylindrical cam mechanism 19.Each push roller 23b is moved along the annular guide means 25 withrotation of the horizontal shaft 23a to press the roller 26d of eachshuttle 26 from behind the roller 26d and propel the shuttle 26.Accordingly, the respective shuttles 26 are moved at predetermined equalintervals along the annular guide means 25 and the peripheral guideportion of the inner guide member 27.

The stop roller 23d of each horizontal shaft 23a is located forwardly ofthe roller 26d of each shuttle 26 and is engaged therewith to preventthe shuttle 26 from running by the force of inertia irrespectively ofthe push roller 26b. The stop lever 62 is located forwardly of thehorizontal shaft 23a and is engaged therewith to prevent the horizontalshaft 23a and supporting member 22 from axial displacement about thevertical shaft 14 by the force of inertia irrespectively of the pushlever 56.

The respective heald frames 45a and 45b are operated by the action ofthe annular cam 19a of the cylindrical cam mechanism 19 and the camfollowers 37a, 37b to form an open shed of the warps 3, so that warps 3are positioned on both the upper and lower sides of the respectiveshuttles 26 in sequence. Accordingly, the warps 3 are woven with wefts70 taken out from the shuttles 26 and a tubular fabric 2 is formed.

The force necessary for propelling the shuttles 26 is imposed on thepush lever 56 of the cylindrical cam mechanism 19 through the horizontalshaft 23a as the load in the rotational direction of the supportingmember 22 and this force is borne by the spring 61. When the warps 3 arenot normally opened by entanglements caused by incorporation of wasteyarns into the warps 3 or by lengthwise split of the warps, which isfrequently caused when filmy yarn of a synthetic resin is employed, theshuttles 26 are pushed forward to the sheds which are not normallyopened and contain closed warps and propelling of the shuttles 26 isinhibited by the such closed warps 3. Accordingly, in this case, a loadlarger than the pulling force of the spring 61 is imposed on thesupporting member 22 in the rotational direction thereof, and the pushlever 56 is forced to swing to the horizontal position against thepulling force of the spring 61 with rotation of the cylindrical cammechanism 19, and the engagement between the horizontal shaft 23a andthe push lever 23a is released.

In other words, when the load in the rotational direction of thesupporting member 22 becomes larger than the pulling force of the spring61, the restraint on the supporting member 22 and the cylindrical cammechanism 19 in the rotational direction is released. Accordingly, therotating torque of the cylindrical cam mechanism 19 is not transmittedto the supporting member 22, and even if the cylindrical cam mechanism19 is continuously rotated, the supporting member 22 is not driven sothat the shuttles 26 can not be propelled. The pressure imposed on eachshuttle 26 when the restraint on the supporting member 22 andcylindrical cam mechanism 19 in the rotational direction is released isdetermined by the pulling force of the spring 61. Accordingly if thepulling force of the spring 61 is appropriately set in advance, it ispossible to prevent breakages of the warps 3 or damage to the pushroller 23b and horizontal shaft 23a by the pressing force of the shuttle26 when the shuttle 26 is stuffed into the closed shed of warps 3.

The push lever 56 which has swung to the horizontal position posture issupported in this horizontal position by the spring 61 and stopper 58.Accordingly, even if the cylindrical cam mechanism 19 is further rotatedin the direction of arrow X, the push lever 56 is not engaged with thesubsequent horizontal shaft 23a located forwardly, but passes below thisshaft 23a in this state. Accordingly, the pressing force is not appliedto the shuttle 26. When only the cylindrical cam mechanism 19 isrotated, the stop lever 62 becomes engaged with the subsequenthorizontal shaft 23a located forwardly. However, since the pulling forceof the spring 65 connected to the stop lever 62 is small, the stop lever62 is allowed to swing under a low pressure with rotation of thecylindrical cam mechanism 19 on engagement with the horizontal shaft23a, and the stop lever 62 passes below the horizontal shaft 23a.Accordingly, the shuttle 26 is not influenced.

As will be apparent from the above-mentioned illustration, in thepresent invention, since the supporting member supporting the shuttlepropelling engaging means and the rotary member, such as the cylindricalcam mechanism, are restrained with respect to the rotational directionthrough urging means, such as a spring, the above-mentioneddisadvantages involved in the conventional techniques, such as breakagesof warps and damage to the shuttle propelling engaging means, and thelike, by the pressing force of the shuttles, can be eliminated when thewarps are not normally opened, that is, when normal sheds are notformed. Thus, the above-mentioned intended object of the presentinvention can be effectively attained.

The shuttle propelling mechanism of the present invention is not limitedto the above-mentioned embodiment with respect to the structures of theshed forming mechanism, the shuttle and the like. Of course, the presentinvention can be applied to any circular loom in which shuttlestravelling along an annular guide member are used. Accordingly, in acircular loom where one or more shuttles are used, if the shuttlepropelling mechanism of the present invention is used for each shuttle,the filling operation can be performed satisfactorily in the moving shedof the circular loom.

I claim:
 1. In a circular loom comprising an annular guide means forguiding at least one shuttle in a predetermined direction, a warp guideannular member disposed above said annular guide means coaxiallytherewith and having a plurality of warp guide slits, a plurality ofshed forming mechanisms arranged annularly outside said warp guideannular member, a cylindrical cam mechanism mounted coaxially with saidshuttle guide means, means for operating said shed forming mechanismsprior to arrival of the shuttle to form moving sheds, in a condition ofsuccessively forming sheds along said annular guide means, a mechanismfor taking out a woven fabric along the axis of said shuttle guide meansand driving means for rotating the cylindrical cam mechanism around theaxis thereof in the direction of guiding the shuttle by the shuttleguide means, a shuttle propelling mechanism comprising a horizontalsupporting member mounted rotatably at a position above said cylindricalcam mechanism on an upward extension of the rotation shaft of thecylindrical cam mechanism, at least one horizontal shaft correspondingto the shuttle to be used, said horizontal shaft being fixed to saidsupporting member and being extended to a position adjacent to saidshuttle guide means, a shuttle engaging mechanism mounted on a free endportion of said horizontal shaft and means for transmitting the rotationof the cylindrical cam mechanism to any of said horizontal shafts.
 2. Ashuttle propelling mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the shuttleengaging mechanism includes a first roll rotatably mounted on a free endportion of said horizontal shaft and when said horizontal shaft isrotated with said cylindrical cam mechanism, said first roll presses apart of the corresponding shuttle to propel said shuttle.
 3. A shuttlepropelling mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the shuttle engagingmechanism includes a bracket mounted rotatably on a free end portion ofsaid horizontal shaft, and second and third rolls rotatably supported onsaid bracket, the second roll has rolling contact with the shuttle guidemeans, and the third roll is located at a position such that it can beengaged with the corresponding shuttle forwardly of the position of theengagement of the first roll with the shuttle with respect to theshuttle propelling direction, thereby to exert the function ofpreventing over-running of the shuttle.
 4. A shuttle propellingmechanism according to claim 1, wherein said means for transmitting therotation of the cylindrical cam mechanism to the horizontal shaftcomprises a bracket disposed in a horizontal plane intersecting at aright angle the rotational shaft of the cylindrical cam mechanism, apush lever mounted rotatably on said bracket, a free end portion of saidpush lever having a length sufficient for engagement with saidhorizontal shaft, a stopper for positioning said push lever so that thepush lever can be engaged with said horizontal shaft and an elasticmember causing said push lever to fall in contact with said stopper, andwherein when the cylindrical cam mechanism is rotated, said push leverbecomes engaged with said horizontal shaft to press the horizontal shaftand rotate said horizontal supporting member coaxially with thecylindrical cam mechanism to propel said shuttle, and when an excessiveload is imposed on said horizontal shaft with respect to the rotatingmovement thereof and becomes larger than the repulsive force of saidelastic member, said push lever is turned to release the engagementbetween the push lever and the horizontal shaft.
 5. A shuttle propellingmechanism according to claim 4, wherein said means for transmitting therotation of the cylindrical cam mechanism to said horizontal shaftfurther comprises a stopper which is disposed on said horizontal planeof the cylindrical cam mechanism so that when the cylindrical cammechanism is rotated in over-running condition and the push leverbecomes engaged with any of the horizontal shafts, said horizontal shaftis prevented from over-running by said stopper.